No donor burnout at Safe Homes

Newburgh — Safe Homes of Orange County, and the families served by the agency, witnessed an unprecedented outpouring of generosity this holiday season, in spite of rumors and signs of donor burnout elsewhere. The community’s response to the agency’s annual “Santa Project” fulfilled the holiday wishes of over seventy families, and a local initiative raised additional support for women and children affected and displaced by domestic violence. Students at Newburgh Free Academy and Wallkill Girl Scouts put together enough stockings for all the Safe Homes’ children. The Cornwall High School National Honor Society and Newburgh Auto-Auction organized toy-drives. Central Valley High School students and faculty adopted the wishes of ten families. Pine Bush High School students creatively raised $1,600. Faith communities collected gift-cards for food and department stores. St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Washingtonville hosted the first annual Gingerbread House Building Contest to benefit the agency, and Newburgh resident William Bell donated a gingerbread house masterpiece as a raffle item. Together, gingerbread house fans raised over $1,000 for Safe Homes’ services and programs. “Before the holiday season began, there was much talk about donor burnout, but, once again, we were touched by the extent of Orange County’s generosity. We are exceedingly grateful and encouraged by those who brightened this season for our clients, beyond all our expectations,” said Michele McKeon, Safe Homes’ executive director. Safe Homes is the county’s non-profit agency fully dedicated to the elimination of domestic violence - through comprehensive services to survivors, programs to increase public awareness, and education on domestic violence issues. The 24-hour hotline, 1-888-503-HOPE (4673), offers hope to individuals affected by domestic violence. For more information, call 562-5365 or write to ocsafehomes@hvc.rr.com.